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Bad Monkey

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Michele says:"hated the reader and the performance"

Publisher's Summary

There's a different schemer or slimeball behind every door: cocaine duckpins who have survived only by the dumbest fortune, hard-luck gigolos desperate to score, undercover cops busting undercover cops who are running sting operations on undercover cops. And just down the row, local historian and spree killer Serge A. Storms -- who has stopped keeping up with his meds -- is still looking for a briefcase stuffed with five million dollars...and is now capable of wreaking more havoc than hurricane Rolando-berto, the big wind gathering force offshore, just waiting for the opportunity to blow everything straight to hell.

If you're a lover of Tim Dorsey's manic Serge Storms series, it's probably enough to say that you won't be disappointed in this book. It's the second in the series, so you get to see the appearances of some characters that populate the later books, like the lovely ladies City and Country. Serge's sidekick Coleman has not yet been reincarnated (apparently killed in "Florida Roadkill" but there is a not-quite-so-stupid Coleman surrogate, Lenny Lipowicz. I believe this is the first appearance of the "Accidental Virgin" Johnny Vegas, a recurring character in the series.

If you've never read a Serge Storms book, then I have a recommendation for you: don't read this one first. Not because you'd be reading them out of order, that's not too important. I recommend you start with one narrated by Oliver Wyman. Come back to George Wilson once you're firmly hooked.

I've listened to a lot of George Wilson. I spent almost 24 hours with him in "Citizen Soldiers", and thought he was great in "With the Old Breed". What those two books, and many other Wilson narrations, have in common is they are factual narratives. Not too many ways to punch up the Battle of the Bulge.

Serge Storms is a maniacal character. George Wilson's portrayal of this zany character is like Richard Nixon impersonating the watermelon-smashing comedian Gallagher. He just doesn't know how to be crazy. And don't get me started on Wilson's rendition of the various shrieks and yells that litter the text. Or how he "sings" the song lyrics that show up from time-to-time.

Oliver Wyman, on the other hand, is the perfect characterization for Serge, Coleman, Lenny, and all the rest. He must know someone with some serious problems to capture them so well. And he surely has been a witness when someone hit a bong.

So, start with a Wyman story, then maybe mix them up, Wyman, Wilson, Wyman, Wilson ... I believe they each did about the same number of Audible's productions, so it will even out in the end.

By the way, if you're a fellow Floridian you'll recognize many of the places Serge describes in this series of books. When I was a kid we traveled all over the northeast part of the state, as that's where our relatives lived. Along the way we'd stop at Weeki Wachee Springs, the Alligator Farm, Saint Augustine, some old pirate bar whose name I forgot, and many, many more. They're all real, and Serge knows every detail of their histories. Some fun!

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Scarot

06/10/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Tim dorsey rocks "

I love these books in the narrator is very professional. I'm addicted to all of Tim Dorsey book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Mark B.

09/09/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Funny; a good laugh to listen to"

Where does Hammerhead Ranch Motel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Above average in the humor/book category

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

There actually was a plot, it was a little bit complex, and there were an awful lot of characters, but it all came together. It would be best to listen to this book alone, without interspersing it with other audio books so you can keep track of all the different characters. There are a lot as I said.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No this is a good book you can listen to but their put down depending on your activity or drive. I actually listened to it in the house on earphones which is unusual for me. Parts of it were exciting and humorous enough to Keep me listening after I got out of the car.

Any additional comments?

This reader really made this book, together. I'm not sure it would have been as interesting without him

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

love to hunt

07/07/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great fun!"

I love Serge. Give me more!!! Can't get enough of his humor and insights into our failed humanity. Too much fun!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Jimmy

portland, OR, United States

31/05/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Better than the first one; now I'm hooked on Serge"

I gave a lackluster review to Florida Roadkill, but I went ahead and got Hammerhead Ranch. The story is better here; maybe its because I know Serge now or because the background set up in FR gave HRM a chance to grow. But, I'm hooked on Serge now and I know I'll keep downloading these books.

They're not great literature, and there's no real point to the tales. No underlying message or social comment. Some of the character names are cringe-worthy puns.

But they are fun to listen to and usually very funny. The "Serge voice" Wilson uses has really grown on me. On to "Orange Crush"...

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Marci

portland, OR, United States

20/03/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Trying too hard"

I like quirky books. I've listened to all of Christopher Moore's books. The spirit of this book reminded me of Moore. This book had one too many story lines and tried too hard to bring them together. Several of the characters were funny and I was interested to see what happened with them. But then others seemed to just be there for filler. I would try another Tim Dorsey book because this one was close to be really good.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

adam

21/11/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"a Storms of crazy"

a twisted tale told much like the film Pulp Fiction many charictors stories seem disjointed in the beginning but the more you listen the more you understand. it can be difficult to follow if your mind wonders, which might be my biggest problem. never the less i did find it enjoyable the perfect blend of comedy action and a twist of who done it.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

vmaureen

Utah

06/08/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Not my kind of book"

Would you try another book from Tim Dorsey and/or George Wilson?

Probably not.

What was most disappointing about Tim Dorsey’s story?

I couldn't get interested in the story or the characters. Couldn't figure out what all the disjointed parts were all about or how they fit together. I didn't get much beyond the first couple of chapters.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator sounded like a sports commentator.

Could you see Hammerhead Ranch Motel being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I didn't get far enough into the book to have any thoughts about a movie or tv or stars.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Cheryl

spring, TX, United States

26/02/12

Overall

Performance

Story

"I love Storm!!"

Time Dorsey does it again....writes a very good book featuring a very odd man and it works! Florida must be a nutty state - too many good books have been written which depicts the state as such.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

C. Byrd

Fort Worth, TX

14/02/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Chasing $5 mill"

What made the experience of listening to Hammerhead Ranch Motel the most enjoyable?

Serge, all about Serge

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hammerhead Ranch Motel?

The storm, how they weathered the storm with a movie about a storm

Which character – as performed by George Wilson – was your favorite?

Has to be Serge, too funny

If you could take any character from Hammerhead Ranch Motel out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Serge, of course.......would be great conversation

Any additional comments?

wild ride, but super fun

1 of 3 people found this review helpful

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